Apparatus for the production of periodic large-volume discharges of liquids



May 8, 1928. 1,669,271

F. R. WEBB k APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OFFERIODIC LARGE VOLUME DISCHARGES OF LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 30. 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 law/d? May 8, 1928.

I F. R. WEBB A APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PERIODIC LARGE VOLUME DISCHARGES OF LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 30. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .lllllllllllllll Illilll I I llllill lllllllll llkrllllllq lii relatively to the disc valve. The other end 1 cylindrical member 17. The lower end of the spring 18 abuts against a second gland member 19 and its upper end bears against an adjustable collet 20 in threaded engagement with the rod 14. By adjusting the collet 20, the pressures at which the disc valve 11 will operate may be varied as desired. A further adjustable abutment memher is provided on an extension 22 of the adjustable collet 20 and is in threaded engagement therewith and is adapted to abut against the upper end of the cylinder 17,. at a predetermined point during the opening movement, in order to prevent excessive dropping of the disc valve 11. The cylinder 17 enclosing the aforesaid spring 18 may contain oil, and a cap may be provided to close in or house this part of the apparatus.

In order to obtain a very rapid closure of the discharge orifice after a predetermined volume of water has been discharged,'and to prevent the withdrawal of air from the receptacle through the said discharge orifice which may occur under exceptional circumstances, a float-controlled disc-valve 25 1s slidably mounted on the valve rod 14. The

diameter of the disc valve 25 is such that' the valve serves fully to cover the upper orifice of the discharge-outlet-cylinder 9. The

disc valve 25 is connected to a float 26, which controls its movement. It will be seen that, as the water level falls, the disc valve 25 will eventually cover the outlet orifice and so prevent further flow of water.

The operation of the'apparatus is as follows: Assume the tension on the spring 18 has been set so that the'disc valve'll will open when the pressure of the water has reached a predetermined point. .The air inlet cock 1 is opened and the receptacle drained of any residual water it' may contain through the drain cock 5. The drain cock 5 and air cock 4- are then closed,and

water allowed to enter the receptacle through the inlet 2 near the lower part thereof. The

level of the water pouring into thereceptacle 1 will continue to rise and, at the same time, compress the air above 1t until the required fluid pressure is reached, which may be taken I to be, for example, when the volume of the air ishalf its original volume, when the disc valve ll will begin to open against the action of the spring 18 holding it on its seat.

W ater' under pressure will now fill the able extent desired.

the intensity (e. g. rate of flow per second)* of each discharge may, by -adjusting-the spring 18* to a higher tension, be increased space between the supper endof the larger cylinder 10 and the outer portion of the disc valvell, and since the area of the disc valve llis considerably .greater than the area of the orifice covered by the valve when closed, the valve spring-1821s a consequence willyield suddenly under the considerably increased pressure to which it isthus subjected, "and a discharge "will take place through the annular space between thecylinder'lO and'the disc-valve 11 in its dropped position. i

It is obvious that as the disc-valvelL-in its down-ward movement, enters the enlarged portion of the bore of the cylinder 10,the fluid force, acting downwardly upon it, will be so considerably diminished when that point is reached in the movement at which the abutment member 21 strikes the upper end of the cylinder 17, that little or no shock will occur at this point; and it will also be obvious that under certain cond'itionsthe I said fiuid'force will be so reduced'as tobe balanced by the opposing force of spring 18,

even before this strikingpo-int is reached at all.

As the water level drops inside the recep taclel, the float-valve 25 will approach the outlet orifice, until finally the suctionof the water causes it to close down quickly uponthe outlet orifice, thus effecting sudden stoppage of the discharge. The disc valve 11 will now lift under force of the spring 18 and will again cover the outlet-orifice, displaolng as it does so the water from above' it through the annular clearance space, surrounding its periphery, with the result that the pressures on either side of the "float valve 25 will be equalized; the float 26 will then lift the valve- 25. thus uncovering the out let orifice in preparation-for the next discharge, and the cycle of operations will begin'again.

Thus an intermittent discharge of-arelatively large volume of water at high,- pres sure is obtained on the ordinarypipe line of the water serv1ce;-and it is obvious that once the apparatus has been started in operation,

thequantity of water discharged at each 'impulse can, by opening the air cock-4; and thereby allowing a portion of the air contents of the receptacle 1 to escape, be reduced to any reasonable extent desired; and the frequency of the discharges may,=as-a neces* sary result or consequence following there-' from, be likewise increased; and again the frequency of the discharges may, by-throttling the inlet 2, be decreased to any reason- It is obvious also. that to any reasonable extent desired, 7

From what has been set forth it will be clear that by suitably manipulating the IUD mew-211 warietion i r the 7 quantity liquid discharged per v mpulse, 1n the Jfr equeney:of suelr dischargespand 1n their intensity (1. e

volume passed per unit of time during/the discharge) In order to allow for the r'lisplaeemenfi oi' the virlvewiise 151, euflieie ntly:to perniit-ihe valve 11 toeloseon its seebing; thev lv'e" water can escape therethrough *u1'1der the pressure produced thereii hy the tension of the spring 18 ire-ting upon the-Valve (1150' 11,

Within such-time as permitted for "the" closure to take-place prepm'atiory {:0 the nezrl; I

i i i i i formed as a cylinder 39 t'heti openat its lopend and contains oil; 'Anmmuh r groin periodie discharge; i Y

In order absolutely topreveut any leukhge of'air past the A valve-rm]; the glrnd r cal w'val-l of the housmg 32 girdythrorigh vents 4-l ;ithis groove io eommunicates wit the outside or eiktebior oft-he] housingduid larextension 24L projeeting 'to thelowest possible level in the receptucle,' the float coneharge outlet is not of} pa relnounir ilii o'ortunee, it is obvious-that the valve 255"to periphery of the valve di plet'ed the water'conbeuts oft-thereeeptaele A i 1 1, and ase consequence expanded ts mreon tents, 'thatthe fluid pressure aecine amen-1 W erdly upon the 1 full area {of the "said" ivzilve disc- 11, is over-halancedbythe deem-gimme "oi 'the' spring 18. 1 1

The apparatusabove described" merely by Way of exzui'ipleerid theinventioii is'hot limited to the particular form of *eon I mid ijthe rec-e1 sr i'iilar iii l oi'm 'to thet' ishown in igures- 1! and 2' mid is 'provided ivith' thef: al cook 4; the drain coek 5" a nd ehe 1 'Wateu;

a w zil we 2'1- works; inh oylindei'w32 mbuutedc-oirz thefiu inletyva'lve 3' (or as many of ithese'iele mentsperne dgofrtheireeeptaole11." Theupiston-rr as may be 11eeessary)','v 'there-smay abe flpro-l i duced, within reasonableilhnits, miyi desiredltothereceptaele:1*by-mrairitight joint orii ireeeptuele 1 to the eylindera32 al sleeve or hush 86 "which fis adapted "to elose 1 l; the POTtSJlGiU the lowerendlofthe piston- .rezic rl'iedthe limitof its upwzi rd n'ioyen'len The valve 29 J held normally closed as; for example; the pressure of; a spring pist0n319 v trolled valve being arranged*ero'und"this tubularstem." In those cases ifn whieh a" very-sudden exposure and elosure oi thedm z may 'find its wa between the piston iits housing 32. i

whilsh it hears attire top= againsl't the t u gether with its operutihg fioi t ayqbe dispensed with so 'thaflthe closure \vi'lloe cur as soon '21s "the" di'eeharge of 3 water through theannu1arspacesurroundingrhol p w a b e WflSher 3 fiISitOT' e 11 hue so dew l urther', asregarde the piston 31, Figu I 3 311614; the lower I end is preferably prov i ed with '21 depending rini 31 so asio forln' a receptacle'to'trap air gul d con's'titiite 'alf'uii? eushionulhis air cushion is adapted web: 1 I i jeorb the shock or Water-hammer) whie *dgc -ib d 1 occurs when Valve 29 closes; for theliqui "low pistoh rod when the-Valve begi i viz, opening and closing it to i 1 small tent at rapid lntervals.

he euc'hthat the diee valve will open are their o1 terthe re'ce forihed integral therewith as show rs 'Nea'iihfle'iits upper: and lower ends',the piston-rod 3 0 1 (is provided with ports-8ey355 respectively,

so as to ellow the. passa'gemf :fluid e; g. Water) through the pistonerod 30' from "i whicl 0 piston 31wvorkeendvice vers \Tear the lawn end ofthe tube 33 there is prm'ided rod 30 shortly before the: Valve "29 711115;

ae'ti igupon the 1 :Inordevlo preserve the; spri-ng' ifi from f risk of corrosion, the piston 31 n-etembly i0 is formed in the interior of the eylin dri The spring i'i then works in she-oil iii the cylindrical extension of I the pist extension 39 01' the piston slides.

The loWeriace of the valve 29* may lar: abutn'ient 38, over which the oyli 'ihriczu' take up the shock when the va'l-Ve Closes.

Z[ he= operationof the apparatus illustrat ed in Figl iree 3 and l isiISf fbl-ldWs Assume; the tension on the spring ""37 to the pressure ofthe water has reziehe a per sq. in

drained- 0 my r l uzihireter.it; may

wiii; thedmiiieock 5":1I'idthe aiTieoc k ed, and were 11 preele through i airin: the: receptacle l'whilstuat the same time a portion of it will by-pass, through'the hollowpiston-rod 30, from the receptacle; 1 to. the cylinder 32 and will displacetheL-air. b therein upwardly past the pistonBl. .The

incominglewd Water to the receptacle 1 .1 Will continue compressing: the airtherein With the result that eventually the fluid pressure-:that acts on the upper face of the valve 10.29 and that tendsto hold it onits seat 28, plusv the. pressure of'the spring37 on the.

piston 31, will just balance the upwardlluid pressureon the piston 31, the area of which is-larger thanwthat oi the valve 29. Then,

15.: as soonas the upward fluid pressure acting on the piston 31 is increased slightly, the

piston will be forced upwards in its cylinder. 32. and will open the valve 29 so that a rapid.-

discharge of liquid will take place through the outlet orifice. Directly the valve. 29 hits from its seating, the liquid pressure which was. formerly actin on its upper face to keep the Valve closed, will, of course bebalanced by the liquid pressure now acting on its exposed under-face, so that the valve will remain open whllst the discharge takes place and in spite of the diminishing fluid'pressure in the receptacle. The dischargernll'continue until this flUIClFPIBSSUI'G actmg upwardly upon the same is no-longer able-to hold the piston 31 against the.downward pressure of the spring 37 acting thereon,

whereupon the valve. 29 closes.

\Vatcr-wvillnow: rise slowly in the recep- 35. tacle again, untihsuch pressure-conditions are reached as tocause'the valve 29 to open for a further-discharge and continue the process.

In Figure .5, there is Jllustrated a modi- 4H lied-form of this invention, wherein the mechanism by means .ofnvhich the valve 3 controlling the outlet from the main airvessel 1. iszoperated, is arranged external thereto. The liquid is led to the main receptacle or airvessel- 1 through the conduit 27 and flows from the airvessel 1 through the discharge pipe 2*, the flowberng controlled,

in the latter-pipe, by the valve 3*. An inlet pipe 27*, which is-by-pasmd from theinain inlet-pipe QZcOnVeysL-liquid to a suitable receptacle .49, providedwith an-air-cock l and drain-cock 5.

The .valve 43 in this construction is leaded, for example by meansoiia spring ii anoun-tedin a cylindrical portion oi the receptacle.4-.9, and acting ona. piston 46. The piston rod 47, which connects the piston 46 to the valve 43,.has its upper .end connected to a lever-.48 for operating the main valve 3*. When a predetermined pressure is reached inside the receptacle 49, the

pi'ston edwill riseinthe cylinder 45, against the\ actionuof the spring. 44, and openthe valves 3 and 48, thus discharging the main receptacle 1. As soon. as the pressure inside thereceptacle 4951 1518 beenr reduced. below...=the

pressure exerted by the spring .44 .the.:piston 46-wvill be pressed downwards-by. thespring 4*land close the valves 3*. and 43.

The devices hereinbefore described maybe duit; means, operated by. the-liquid under 13113881111301 the air-charge in the receptacle, 'lor open ng the valve when a predeternnned degree of air-compression isattained;1and means depending upon the loading-'iorce-torreturning the valve to the closed: position when a predetermined amount of liquid has been discharged through the. outlet conduit. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptaclesuitable 't'oruthe com pression of an air-charge by 2 liquid, and provided with means of ingress; and means of egressafor the liquidwmeans for pre cluding leakage 1 of the airecharge :lronrrthe receptacle, so that 'theisaid' charge: canber repeatedly. used without,diminution a: loadedvalve =which:normally closes :the means of egress Whilst the'liquidpunder; pressure of theair-chargein the -r.eceptacle,aacts, in opposition to the loading force, ,llPOIli a surface of varying effectiveness, iOWtLlClSwOPGIling the said valve ;-means dependent upon the fluid pressure in the rcceptacle iior overbalancing the loading-force, so as to open the valve and increase the eilect-iveness of the said..surface,' when apredeterniined degree of air-compression-ds ;:attained;-: and means dependent upon the loading .forcefor over-balancing the fiuidrpressurew and returning. .thevalve ..to: .the closed;. position,; 5 when a predeterminedamount oi fliquidhas been discharged, through t-hesaidameans of egress so that the efiectiveness"otithe'said surface is again reduced.

3. Anapparatus of- :the character .de-iscribed, comprising a receptacle suit-able for the compression. of .an air-charge by arliquid andprovidedwith meanstof ingress and means -of --.egress.-,fon L- the liquid ,rmeans for precluding leakage of. ithe. air-charge. from.

the receptacle so that said-chargecanizwbe repeatedly .used Without. diminution; a-loaded valveiwhich normally closes. the: means ofegressg. apiston which is arranged to goperate-t-he loaded .valve andthe area of which is largerthan that et the {valve-scat said piston being operated by aliquid underpres sureiof the air in thereceptacle; and acyl- L inder: .in ivhich; the piston] recipr-ocatcs and wivhichis in liquidv communication with? the receptacle; the piston'being arranged to open the valve.againstdthe load thereon whenwa predetermined pressure is reached in the receptacle, and the valvebeing,arrangcdito close automatically when 'a PlCClQiTQTHliDGL'l amount of liquid;has beendischarged from theareccptaclem f; .3 An apparatus of *thc @charactc'rw described, comprising a receptaclesuitablefor the compression of an ai=r-chargeby a liquid and provided wvith n'ieans moi. -ingress and means of egress for the-liquid,- ineans for precluding leakagie of the air-charge from the receptacle so tlmtsaid chargecan berepeate'dly used ivithout diminuation a valve arra nged to close the means oiiegress a cylinder attached to the receptacle and which "communicates" with i the liquid contai nc'd therein a piston ivhich 1 Works in the cylin- =der -ancl opcra-tes t-h valve and the 'arcapof which is larger than iat the \ralve-scat; "and az sprin which acts l iiointlie valveso as to hold"ifinormallyclosed.

5. An apparatus of" the'character-"described, comprising a receptacle sr'tahle tor the compression of an ai-r-charge eye liquid and provided with means of ingress and means of egress for the liquid; means for precluding,- leakage of the air-charge from the receptacle so that said charge can be repeatedly used Without diminution; a valve loaded with a view to closing the means of egress; a piston, dependent for its operation upon the air-pressurein the receptacle, for opening said valve when a, predetermined degree of compression is attained, said piston connnunicating with the contents of the receptacle at a point below the aircharge therein contained; and means dependent upon the loading-force, for returning the valve to the closed position when a predetermined amount. of liquid has been discharged from the receptacle through the means of egress.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an air-tight receptacle containing a predetermined volume of air and having an inlet conduit through which a small current of Water is fed continuously for the purpose of compressing" said air, and an outlet conduit for the purpose of discharging the Water periodically, and at regular intervals, under influence of the air thus compressed; a valve controlling the outlet conduit, the valve being-held on its seat by means of a spring; a piston hydraulically operated, under influence otthe fiuid-pressure accumulated in the receptacle, towards unseating the valve, said piston being in communication with the Water contents of the receptacle and "so arranged thatai only partially effective 1 "when l the: I valve '15 fthe air charp rangedto rccrpro ate mthe I piston being attached to the valve and 'op erseated but is increasingly weifective as 1 the valve leaves-its seatpsohthat at a predetermined degree of air-conniression in-the -re 7 ceptacle the valve is openedand due .to: the increased effectiveness otFthe piston' 'thus produced, maintained openagainst athe spring; and "means 1 dependent suponwthe spring for returning the valve to the closed position an soon asa predetermined amount of Water "hasheen discharged through the outlet *c(')nduit,-so that theeitectiveness of said piston is again reduced, and-so maintained until the predetermined degree of air compression is again reached within the: receptacle and the valve is aga1n= forced from its seat.

l '7. An apparatus of the charactor de- "scribed, comprisinga receptacle suitable "for the compression an a ir-charge by a liquid asnd provided Will-l1 means i of ingress and "means ofearessfor i'he liquid a lvalve arl ranged to close the inez-ins of egress cylinder attached to the receptacle, the bore 'of "the cylinder being greater than that otthe valv rseatinneansj for precludii'ig accessof "Ttothe linde-r; a piston arvlinder', I the atini to open it, and :1 a spring which operates to close the valve.

8. An apparatus of the character 1 described, comprising a receptaclecontaining a charge of air adapted to be compressed by.

open the valve when a predetermined compression of the air-charge has been attained; Whilst an opposing force operates upon the piston, to return the valve to the closed position soon as a predetermined amount of liquid has been discharged from the receptacle past the valve, said closure being an ranged to take place whilst the pressure of the air-charge is still in excess of atmospheric pressure: and said. opposing: force opcrating upon said piston to maintain the valve in the closed position so that the predetermined compression of the air-charge can be again attained preparatory to the next discharge.

9. An apparatus ofthe character descril'ied conuorising an. air-compression chamber containing an air-charge and provided with means of ingress for a liquid to compress said air-charge and means of egress to discharge the liquid, thus accumulated, periodically and at regular intervals; means precluding leakage of the. air-charge openingthe valve; means for inereasingthe ,maintain'the valvfe fully open for'an appreciable period tO-TGBDTIPOffi discharge from frointhe eompressionechamber so-that said I charge" can zberrepeatedlyused avithout diminutiont 1' a loaded valve rwhlch normally ClOISGS'iftllE. means of egress, Whilst the fluidpressure, due:to compression otthe-aircharge. acts; .withx'varying VElfG-Ctl-VGHGSS, in i.

op iositioin lo the loading-"force, towards efi'ectiveness of'said fluid-pressure so as to 1 over balance the:loadingrforce and open-the valve; means for"-=further-increasing: the eit' fectiven'ess' of said filial-pressure seasto the iCOll'lPIGSSlOHClT1l11b81"I means "for reducingsthe effectiveness of said fluid-pressure so that the ioree produced thereby is overbalanced by the loading-force which then re turns the valve to the closedposition; and

means-for further reducing the. eilfectiveness of said :fiuid-pressure-so as toeenable the loading :i'o'rceto maintaiinthevalve closed tor-amappreeiable periodte permit-o1 a re chargement. ofliquid v to the compression chambers v valve; means for increasing Vness ot'said fiuld-pressurezso: as to ovenbalperiodically and at regular intervals; means precluding r leakage" of the "air-charge from the compression chamber so thatxsaidmharge can be repeatedly 'used without diminution;

a, loaded WLlVQ"Wl1lClli norm-ally closes the (11195 to compression otxthe air eharge, acts, 7 with varying efi'eet1veness,- m

opposition to the loading. force; towards opening-w the ance the loading force and unseat the valve;

- meanswfor further inereasingxtthe effectivenessot said fluid pressurewso as to force said valve rapidlvtowards the fullyopenwposition means for reducing'theeffectiveness of said thud-pressure as the valve-approaches the Y fully open position so' thatsaid 'posii'lOII? is attained without eshoek; means for further reducing the efi'eetiveness rof isaid fluid-pressure .-sothat ithe: toree produced thereby is overbalanced by theloadingeforce which then return suthe'i valve i totheclosed position; and means: for-still: further reducing" the effectiveness of said fluid-pressure so as to enablethe loading-tometo maintain the valve elosedtt'or an appreciable period to permit of a reehargement of liquid to the e01npress-ion-ehamber.i

FREDERICK RIGHARD WEBB.

the elieetive-- 

